The Avengers to close Tribeca Film Festival

"Marvel's The Avengers". Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Captain America (Chris Evans) join forces in "Marvel's The Avengers," opening in theaters on May 4, 2012. The Joss Whedon-directed action-adventure is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures and also stars Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson. ..© 2011 MVLFFLLC. TM & © 2011 Marvel. All Rights Reserved. Byline: Zade Rosenthal

Tribeca Film Festival has announced that “The Avengers” will close the festival with a screening on April 28.  The screening will celebrate everyday heroes from police agencies, fire departments, first responders and various branches of the U.S. military who will have an opportunity to attend the screening and meet the cast.

“We are proud that Marvel’s The Avengers is the closing film of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and we are excited to welcome local heroes to the screening as special guests,” said Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige. ” We all know and love our iconic Super Heroes, but when it really counts, it’s our real-life heroes who save the world every day by making it a better place for all of us.”

Director Joss Whedon added his support in a news release.

“Showing at Tribeca is both an honor and a double homecoming for me, who grew up in Manhattan, and for the movie, which wrapped production there,”  Whedon said. “I’m thoroughly psyched to be closing the festival with our intimate little think-piece.”

Visit www.tribecafilm.com/festival for more information about TFF’s 2012 programs and the full line-up of films.

- Matt Price